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Suwon Bluewings begin another season in a division they still feel they do not belong in — but one that recent failures suggest they do. After two unsuccessful promotion attempts, the club has turned to Lee Jung-hyo to end the nightmare. Can he restore Suwon to their rightful place, or are the Bluewings becoming a K League 2 fixture?
Last Season
20W – 12D – 7L, 2nd.
*Defeated 3-0 by Jeju SK on aggregate in the playoffs.
What Happened?
The consequences of Suwon’s failure to earn promotion back to K League 1 for a second straight season have been severe. Gone are the general manager, the entire backroom staff — including first-team manager Byun Seung-hwan — and a host of senior players, including Lee Ki-jae.
Lee Ki-jae during happier times.
Suwon invested heavily in their squad last winter, recruiting players in virtually every position. However, a terrible start — four points from the first four games — immediately put the club on the back foot. They never recovered sufficiently.
One of the major weaknesses in the Suwon squad over recent seasons had been their attack. A lack of goals cost the Bluewings their K League 1 status in 2023 and contributed to their dismal sixth-place finish last year. Byun completely overhauled his attacking options, bringing in proven talent — and it worked. Stanislav Iljutcenko, Matheus Serafim, and Kim Ji-hyeon combined for 38 goals as Suwon finished the campaign with an eye-watering total of 76.
Unfortunately, as one gaping hole was repaired, another emerged. The Bluewings were torn apart at the back, conceding 50 goals in 39 matches, and three more against Jeju in the playoffs. These numbers are unsustainable, and what is most frustrating is that over the course of the 39-match regular season, Suwon never rectified the issue. This was compounded by the fact that Suwon fell behind in 19 of their 42 total matches. Only three times did they recover to win. Teams do not earn promotion with such glaring deficiencies.
Notable Moves
Lee Jung-hyo
The 50-year-old is not a new signing for the club, but the acquisition of the former Gwangju manager is arguably the biggest decision Suwon have made in years. Lee arrives with a stellar reputation as one of the most forward-thinking Korean managers on the circuit.
Will Reis be celebrating for Suwon this season?
Reis
When Lee signed, the question immediately became: which former Gwangju players would he bring with him? If you conducted a snap poll of Suwon supporters, the name Isnairo Reis Silva Morais would rank highly. The 33-year-old forward scored 10 goals in 32 matches last season and has previously played — and dominated — K League 2.
Kim Joon-hong
Twenty-two-year-old goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong joins on a season-long loan from MLS side DC United. Kim arrived in the United States as DC’s first-choice goalkeeper, starting the opening seven matches. Results did not go his way, with the former Jeonbuk youngster conceding 12 goals in three matches before being dropped. DC United were dreadful overall, winning just five matches and finishing with the worst record in the league. Kim will be looking to rebuild his form and confidence at Big Bird. The talent is unquestionably there.
Lee Ki-jae
The saddest aspect of Lee Ki-jae’s departure is not just that his final match ended in defeat, but that it concluded with a scandalous red card. It brought an end to a seven-year association with the Bluewings, during which he earned international caps. Last season, he scored three goals and provided seven assists as Suwon’s first-choice left back. Now, Lee plies his trade in Iran.
Key Player
Park Hyun-bin
Park Hyun-bin will add some much needed steel to Suwon's central midfield.
Other players have arrived with a higher profile under the Lee Jung-hyo revolution, but none will fill such a glaring hole in the lineup as former Bucheon FC midfielder Park Hyun-bin. The combative 22-year-old is exactly what Suwon have lacked for several seasons: a tough, uncompromising, ball-winning central midfielder who finally adds steel to the engine room.
Reis and Fessin will supply goals, but Suwon were not short of them last year. What they have craved for some time is a shield protecting their surprisingly fragile defence. Park opted against promotion with Bucheon — where he would have been a guaranteed K League 1 starter — suggesting Suwon made a compelling offer to a potential future Korean international.
Young Player to Watch
Lee Geon-hee
It may sound strange to say this, but 20-year-old right back Lee Geon-hee might not start the season as Suwon’s first-choice option. He fought off competition from experienced former Incheon United defender Jeong Dong-yoon to make 27 appearances in an unstable back line last season.
Lee did enough to earn call-ups to the Korea U23 side, and supporters likely felt he still had room to grow. The club’s signing of Gyeongnam FC right back Lee Jun-jae has added depth to the position. Lee Geon-hee was less culpable than most of his senior defensive partners for Suwon’s defensive failures and offered a genuine threat marauding down the right flank.
Biggest Question
Is Lee Jung-hyo the man to awaken the giant?
Suwon Bluewings stand on the precipice of becoming a K League 2 staple. This season marks their third year in Korea’s second division — an unthinkable scenario when relegation struck in 2023.
They responded to the failure to secure an immediate return by investing heavily in an attack that had malfunctioned for years. It still wasn’t enough. Concerns that financial backing would be scaled back have, however, proved unfounded.
Securing Lee Jung-hyo on a five-year deal was the coup of the winter. The former Busan player came agonisingly close to delivering Gwangju their first major silverware in December and soon after guided the club to the ACL Elite quarter-finals. Now, he is preparing for trips to Paju Frontier and Ansan Greeners.
Suwon have placed all their eggs in this — admittedly impressive — basket. Lee is the best manager in Korea. He has a strong squad and incredible support behind him. If he cannot deliver promotion, it is difficult to imagine who can.
Reason to Watch
Everything fun about Suwon Samsung Bluewings happens off the pitch — unless you are a rival supporter. The club averaged 12,048 spectators in 2025, their highest figure in a decade. Big Bird is a stunning stadium, and attending a match there remains one of the best football experiences in Korea.
The Big Bird atmosphere is one of Korea's best.
Despite recent disappointments, those attendance figures are unlikely to dip, largely due to the excitement surrounding Lee Jung-hyo’s arrival. If the former Gwangju manager can get a tune out of his band, this could be a fascinating season to watch unfold.
